Hydrotherapy bath tub

ABSTRACT

A hydrotherapy bath tub unit comprising a cavity defining a continuous wall mounting a plurality of liquid emitting nozzles for introducing therapeutic liquid to the cavity, each of the nozzles being mounted for universal movement to any selected one of a plurality of different positions to direct the therapeutic liquid in any selected one of a plurality of different paths of travel.

United States Patent 1191 Eberhard I 11 1 3,788,306 Jan. 29, 1974 4] HYDROTHERAPY BATH TUB [76] Inventor: Frank A. Eberhard, 418 N. Birney St., Bay City, Mich. 48706 [22] Filed: Mar. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 232,004

[52] US. Cl. 128/66 [51] Int. Cl A6lh 9/00 [58] Field of Search 128/65, 66; 4/178, 180

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,377,630 4/1968 Robare 128/66 X 3,297,025 1/1967 Jacuzzi..... 3,455,299 7/1969 Gerow. 3,565,065 2/1971 Biggs 128/66 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 574,700 3/1958 Italy 128/66 122,788 12/1900 Germany 4/178 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or F irm Learman & McCulloch [5 7 ABSTRACT A hydrotherapy bath tub unit comprising a cavity defining a continuous wall mounting a plurality of liquid emitting nozzles for introducing therapeutic liquid to the cavity, each of the nozzles being mounted for universal movement to any selected one of a plurality of different positions to direct the therapeutic liquid in any selected one of a plurality of different paths of travel.

14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures HYDROTHERAPY BATH TUB FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to hydrotherapy equipment and more particularly, to a whirlpool bath tub unit which employs apparatus for circulating liquid throughout the tub to efficiently and effectively remedially treat body disorders, particularly, those of burn patients, through hydrotherapeutic whirlpool action.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior art whirlpool bath tub units have the common characteristic that the interior surface of the tub is flat along some portion of the sidewall or floor of the tub. Such therapeutic units forcibly circulate wash water in a whirling, churning stream against a part of a person positioned within the tub to remedially treat such a person but have the common disadvantage that the circulating flow of wash water is somewhat impeded as it impinges upon the flattened areas. This, of course, diminishes the efficiency with which the unit can operate, thereby reducing the maximum therapeutic effect of these units. Additionally, foreign matter commonly found in the wash water abnormally accumulates in the corners of the flattened areas and causes sanitation problems. The removal of such foreign matter from these areas is time consuming and expensive. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an easily cleaned, thereapeutic bath tub unit which will provide maximum therapeutic action.

Frequently, patients who are unable to swim have a fear of being completely submerged in the bath liquid and thus suffer substantial mental anguish each time they enter a liquid-filled tub. Particular problems arise in treating burn patients in that physical contact with the skin must be minimized to minimize irritation, infection and pain when removing burned skin and clothing from the patient. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to prti ide apparatus for moving a burn patient to and from a hydrotherapy bath tub and for removing burned tissue and burned clothing from a burn patient with a minimum of physical contact.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a hydrotherapy bath tub unit which has the capability of adjusting both the volume and the pressure of the wash liquid used to remove clothing and burn tissue from a burn patient so that the volume and pressure of the wash liquid may be incrementally increased as desired.

Afflictions can occur on virtually any portion of the body and thus it is important that the bath tub unit is effective to produce a whirlpool bath effect at any location within the tub. Some areas of the body, such as the underarm area or areas on the inside of the legs are partially secluded and generally inaccessible to treatment with the prior art whirlpool units. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a whirlpool bath tub unit which will provide a remedial turbulence of the wash liquid in any location within the tub.

In some instances, more than one area of the body requires simultaneous treatment. Accordingly, it is a still further object of the present invention to provide a whirlpool bath tub unit which can selectively provide one or a plurality of individual Whirlpools within the tub to simultaneously remedially treat one portion, or

a plurality of remote portions, respectively, of a person positioned within the tub.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A hydrotherapy bath tub comprising wall portions having completely curvilinear interior wall surfaces defining an open top bathing cavity for receiving and containing wash liquid and adapted to receive a bather, and a plurality of spaced apart liquid emitting nozzle means mounted on the wall portions for universal movement and adapted to be connected to a source of liquid for directing such liquid in selected paths of travel in the cavity. I

The present invention may more readily be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of apparatus constructed according to the present invention, part of the patient lifting apparatus being omitted for purposes of clarity and part of the tub being broken away to better illustrate the underlying liquid carrying hoses;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevational view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1, part of the patient lifting apparatus being omitted for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a sectional end view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1, part of the patient lifting apparatus and water carrying hoses being broken away in the interest of clarity; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the liquid emitting nozzles, taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Therapeutic apparatus constructed according to the present invention is supported on a mobile frame, generally designated F, including pairs of upstanding end walls 7 and side walls 8 fixed to a bottom wall 6 which is supported for rolling movement by a plurality of caster assemblies 9.

A bath tub, generally designated 10, constructed according to the present invention, is supported on the frame F and includes a continuous side and bottom wall 12 which has an interior surface 14 that is completely curvilinear and defines a cavity C for receiving wash water and a person to be treated. The wall 12 is curved inwardly at its upper end to provide a perimetrical splash ring or lip 16a, the perimeter of which is less than the perimeter of the subadjacent portion 16b, defining an upwardly opening mouth 16 through which a bather enters the tub. The inwardly projecting splash ring 16a deflects water splashed upwardly by the bather back into the cavity C. An outwardly and perimetrically extending horizontal support flange 18 is integrally connected with the splash ring 16a and includes a downwardly extending, perimetrical support bead 20 removably supported on the side and end walls 7 and 8 of the frame F.

Because the interior tub surface 14 is completely curvilinear, there are no sharp comers, flats, or edges for dirt to collect or accumulate and thus, cleaning is reduced to a minimum. In addition, the wash water, which is initially introduced into the cavity C from a temperature controlled source (not shown) and circulated in the tub in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter, will freely flow in any selected path of travel with a minimum of impedance.

Water recirculating apparatus, generally designated R, is provided for circulating the wash water in the tub cavity in such a manner as to provide the necessary hydrotherapy action and includes a recirculating fluid pump 29 driven by a variable speed electric motor M1 and connected, by a conduit or hose 33a, to a drain port 33 provided in the bottom of the tub. The output of the fluid pump 29 is connected to a fluid distributing manifold M by a conduit 33b. The manifold M includes a plurality of discharge water carrying discharge conduits 26 having ends 26a snugly received in a plurality of apertures 24 (FIG. 4) provided in the end and side of the tub wall 12. The end 26a of each conduit 26 includes an internal seat 27 having a spherical contour for receiving the complementally contoured, spherical head 28 of a nozzle, generally designated N. Each nozzle N includes a longitudinal stem or spout 32 integrally formed with the head 28 and a linear bore 30 is provided through the stem 32 and the spherical head 28 to permit washing liquid in the conduit 26 to flow through the bore 30 into the cavity C. Each spherical head 28 is substantially univerally mounted in the seat 27 for movement in any plane so as to direct the wash liquid in any path of travel. To lock or clamp the spherical head 28 in any selected rotary position, a retaining cap 34, having a radially inwardly projecting flange 34a defining an enlarged stem receiving aperture 34b, is threadedly received on the externally threaded end 26a of the conduit 26 and clamps the spherical head 28 to the seat 27 in any selected one of a plurality of predetermined positions. The flange 34a is tapered at 34c to conform to the spherical shape of the head 28. The outer surface 35 of the cap 34 may be knurled to facilitate the manual gripping thereof. Each conduit 26 includes an annular external flange 26c for engaging the exterior of the tub wall 12 to prevent the conduit 26 from being drawn into the cavity C when the retaining clamp 34 is threaded on the conduits 26.

A drain conduit 51 having a valve 53 is connected with the manifold M for draining the wash water when the valve 53 is opened and the pump 29 is operating. The pump which is operated by the variable speed, electric motor Ml, controls the pressure as well as the volume of the liquid passing through the nozzles N into the cavity C. For controlling the volume of wash liquid in the manifold M and the supply conduits 26, a liquid bypass valve V is connected in parallel with the pump 29 for permitting fluid in the pump output line 33b to flow to the pump input line 33a. By adjusting the valve V, all, or only a predetermined portion of the output of pump 29 may be permitted to flow to the manifold M and nozzles N. For individually controlling the volume of fluid being emitted by each nozzle N, a manually controlled valve 43 is connected in each fluid carrying conduit 26 and is manually operated by a handle 47 fixed to a valve stem 48 connected to the valve 43 and extending through the tub support flange 18. The valves 43 are made such that the flow of fluid through the conduits 26 may be completely interrupted.

For supporting burn patients, or patients having a fear of the water and who want the assurance of being able to be quickly removed from the tub cavity C, a patient support mechanism or carriage, generally designated 38, is provided and includes a patient supporting frame F and lift apparatus, generally designated 39,

for lifting the frame between a removed position outside the tub to a position within the tub as illustrated in FIG. 2. The frame F comprises a pair of longitudinal, generally Z-shaped rails 40 having their head ends 41 spanned by an end tie bar 44 and their foot ends spanned by an end tie bar 44a which serves as a footrest for a patient supported on the support mechanism 38. When the support mechanism 38 is in the lower position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the head ends 41 of the Z-shaped rails 40 are supported on the perimetrically extending support flange 18 and the foot ends 42 are supported on the lower portion of the tub wall 12. Removably supported on the rails 40 are a plurality of patient supporting cross slats 45 having a yieldable clips or clamps 46 on the ends thereof which removably, clamp or grip the longitudinal rails 40. The clips or clamps 46 permit the cross slats 45 to be quickly and easily removed for cleaning.

The apparatus 39 for lifting the patient support mechanism or carriage 38 vertically into and out of the tub includes a plurality of eye bolts 50, fixed to the cross ties 44 and 44a, and a plurality of hook members 52, received in the eye bolts 50, connected by cables 54, to a central hook member 56 depending from the end 58a of a horizontal support arm 58 that is pivoted at 59 on a vertical support member 60. The vertical support member 60 is journaled on a suitable support member (not shown) for rotating movement about its own axis. A double acting, solenoid actuated, fluid operated cylinder 62 is pivotally supported on the vertical member 60 and includes a piston rod 62a for pivoting the horizontal support member 58 about the pivot 59, in a to-and-fro arcuate path of travel represented by arrows b, (FIG. 3) to raise or lower the patient supporting carriage 38 into and out of the tub. As is best illustrated in FIG. 1, the portion 18a of the flange 18 on one side of the tub is slightly wider than the portion 18b of the flange 18 on the opposite side of the tub and mounts a plurality of vertical posts 61 (FIG. 3) which support a handrail 63 (FIGS. 1 and 3).

THE OPERATION The carriage 38 is initially positioned outside the tub and a burn patient is supported on the slats 45 of the carriage 38. The drain valve 53 is closed and tub cavity C is filled, from a precision temperature controlled source (not shown) with wash fluid to a depth depending upon the size and affliction of the patient. The fluid operated cylinder 62 is operated to advance the piston rod 62a and raise the patient support carriage 38 above the flange 18 of the tub. The arm 58 is then horizontally swung about the vertical axis of its vertical support member 60 to position the patient support carriage 38 over the tub cavity C. The cylinder 62 is then actuated to retract the piston rod 62a and lower the carriage 38, and the patient supported thereon, into the cavity C defined by the tub wall 12. The nozzle retaining caps 34 are slightly unturned and the nozzles 32 are adjusted so that the treating liquid, which is contained in the tub and recirculated by the pump 29 is directed along any selected path of travel. The nozzle retaining caps 34 are then turned on the threaded ends 26a of the pipes 26 to clamp the nozzles in position. The individual valves 43 are selectively opened and adjusted to increase and decrease the volume of wash liquid while simultaneously respectively decreasing and increasing the pressure of the wash liquid being emitted by the nozzles N. The speed of the motor M1 and the main control valve V are then adjusted so that the proper amount of fluid, at the proper pressure, is directed toward the patient.

The patient supporting carriage 38 constructed according to the invention will permit an attendant to soak or wash burned clothing and burn tissue from substantially all portions of the body of a burn patient. After healing has progressed, the attendant can increase the pressure and volume of water as necessary in subsequent treatments. Because there are no flats on the surface 14, the water will circulate with maximum efficiency and will result in the most efficient hydrotherapy action. The nozzles N can be so directed that they cooperate with the completely curvilinear surface 14 to create a whirlpool or massage effect anywhere within the cavity C to selectively massage the several areas of the patients body. The completely curvilinear surface permits the water being forcibly directed thereagainst by the nozzles N to be reflected in remedially turbulent, whirling, churning streams of water against normally inaccessible parts of the body such as the inside of the leg or underarm areas. Due to the location and number of nozzles and the completely curvilinear surface 14, the attendant can create from one to five separate whirlpool areas in the cavity C by adjusting the direction of the individual nozzles N as desired. When the operation is completed, the drain valve 53 is opened to permit the pump output liquid to be discharged through the drain pipe 51. The valve V can be adjusted to control the volume of fluid being emitted by the pump 29 so as not to overload the drainpipe 51.

The bath tub is constructed of plastic to provide an electrically and thermally non conductive construction which insures patient safety and comfort and provides a pleasing appearance, both in color and shape, to the patient.

It should also be understood that a load cell may be incorporated in the lift mechanism 39 for weighing patients without departing from the nature, spirit, and scope of the invention.

It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matter are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, rather than limiting the same in any way, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made in various elements to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hydrotherapy whirlpool bathing unit comprising:

an open top tub including wall portions having continuous, interior wall surfaces defining a bathing cavity for containing liquid and receiving a bather to be treated; and

a plurality of spaced apart nozzle means substantially universally mounted on said wall portions for directing such liquid in selected paths of travel in said cavity;

said interior wall surfaces being completely curvilinear to provide the minimum resistance to the flow of liquid in said paths of travel and cooperating with said nozzle means forcibly directing liquid thereagainst to create a desired remedial turbulence in any location within said cavity.

2. The bathing unit set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper ends of said wall portions are upwardly convergent to provide a splash ring defining a reduced opening at the top of the tub, to deflect any liquid inadvertently, upwardly splashed back toward the tub cavity.

3. The bathing unit set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said nozzle means comprises; a tubular element, adapted to be connected with said source of liquid, including a socket type seat at its terminal end; a spout, through which liquid is discharged, including a generally spherically shaped head mounted in said seat for universal movement to a plurality of different positions to direct liquid along any selected one of a plurality of different paths of travel and having a passage in fluid communication with said tubular element and opening into said cavity; and clamping means connected with said one end and movable between unclamped and clamping positions for selectively clamping said head in any selected one of said plurality of positions.

4. The bathing'unit of claim 3 wherein said clamping means includes an enlarged aperture therein, said spout including a stern fixed to said spherically shaped head, said stem being received in said enlarged aperture being freely movable within said aperture when said clamping means is in said unclamped position, said stem having a passage therethrough in liquid communicating relation with said first mentioned passage.

5. The bathing unit set forth in claim 4 including discharge port means in said wall portions, and recirculating pump means connected with said discharge port means and said nozzle means for recirculating liquid from said cavity through said discharge port means to said nozzle means; and means for selectively increasing or decreasing the volume of liquid while simultaneously increasing or decreasing, respectively, the pressure of the liquid passing through said nozzle means.

6. The bathing unit set forth in claim 5 including means for individually controlling the volume of fluid emitted from each of said nozzle means.

7. The bathing unit apparatus set forth in claim 1 including patient supporting apparatus movable between vertically spaced positions into and out of said cavity; and means for moving said body supporting apparatus into and out of said cavity between said vertically spaced positions; said patient supporting apparatus including longitudinally extending support members and a plurality of longitudinally spaced cross members removably clamped to said longitudinally extending support members.

8. The bathing unit set forth in claim 5 wherein the upper portions of said sidewall portions are curved inwardly toward each other to provide a splash ring which defines a reduced opening at the top of the tub and deflects upwardly splashed liquid back into the bathing cavity.

9. The bathing unit set forth in claim 8 including patient supporting apparatus movable between vertically spaced positions in which the apparatus is in or out of said cavity, means for moving said body supporting apparatus into and out of said cavity between said vertically spaced positions; said body supporting apparatus including longitudinally extending support members and seat members removably clamped to said longitudinally extending support members.

10. The bathing unit set forth in claim 1 including recirculating means for withdrawing liquid from said cavity and cooperating with said nozzle means for reintroducing the withdrawn liquid to said cavity; means associated with each nozzle means for individually controlling the volume of liquid emitted therefrom; and liquid pressure and volume control means associated with a plurality of said nozzle means for simultaneously changing the pressure and volume of fluid in said plurality of nozzle means.

11. The bathing unit set forth in claim 10 including discharge port means in said wall portions, said liquid pressure and volume changing means comprising variable output pump means having an input section connected with said discharge port means and a discharge section connected with said plurality of nozzle means, means for changing the operation of said pump means to vary the output thereof to said plurality of nozzle means, and means connected between the discharge section and input section of said pump means for selectively diverting selected portions of said fluid from said output section to said input section to bypass said nozzle means and thus control the volume of fluid communicated to said nozzle means.

12. A therapeutic bath tub comprising:

completely curvilinear, continuous bottom and side,

synthetic plastic wall means defining a bath receptacle for receiving washing liquid;

a plurality of liquid emitting nozzles mounted on said wall means and adapted to be connected with a source of wash liquid for emitting liquid into said cavity;

means for adjusting the pressure of the wash liquid delivered to said nozzles;

each of said nozzles being adjustably mounted to various positions to control the direction of flow of wash liquid therethrough;

means disposed in the receptacle for supporting at least a portion of a bathers body in the receptacle;

and

means mounting the support means for vertical movement between a bathing position in said receptacle and a non-bathing removed position.

13. The therapeutic bath tub set forth in claim 12 wherein said nozzles cooperate with each other and with said surface in selectively creating either one whirlpool or a plurality of individual whirlpoolswithin said cavity.

14. The therapeutic bath tub set forth in claim 12 wherein said nozzles cooperate with each other and with said surface in selectively creating a whirling, churning, stream of liquid forcibly directed against any part of a person positioned within said cavity. 

1. A hydrotherapy whirlpool bathing unit comprising: an open top tub including wall portions having continuous, interior wall surfaces defining a bathing cavity for containing liquid and receiving a bather to be treated; and a plurality of spaced apart nozzle means substantially universally mounted on said wall portions for directing such liquid in selected paths of travel in said cavity; said interior wall surfaces being completely curvilinear to provide the minimum resistance to the flow of liquid in said paths of travel and cooperating with said nozzle means forcibly directing liquid thereagainst to create a desired remedial turbulence in any location within said cavity.
 2. The bathing unit set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper ends of said wall portions are upwardly convergent to provide a splash ring defining a reduced opening at the top of the tub, to deflect any liquid inadvertently, upwardly splashed back toward the tub cavity.
 3. The bathing unit set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said nozzle means comprises; a tubular element, adapted to be connected with said source of liquid, including a socket type seat at its terminal end; a spout, through which liquid is discharged, including a generally spherically shaped head mounted in said seat for universal movement to a plurality of different positions to direct liquid along any selected one of a plurality of different paths of travel and having a passage in fluid communication with said tubular element and opening into said cavity; and clamping means connected with said one end and movable between unclamped and clamping positions for selectively clamping said head in any selected one of said plurality of positions.
 4. The bathing unit of claim 3 wherein said clamping means includes an enlarged aperture therein, said spout including a stem fixed to said spherically shaped head, said stem being received in said enlarged aperture being freely movable within said aperture when said clamping means is in said unclamped position, said stem having a passage therethrough in liquid communicating relation with said first mentioned passage.
 5. The bathing unit set forth in claim 4 including discharge port means in said wall portions, and recirculating pump means connected with said discharge port means and said nozzle means for recirculating liquid from said cavity through said discharge port means to said nozzle means; and means for selectively increasing or decreasing the volume of liquid while simultaneously increasing or decreasing, respectively, the pressure of the liquid passing through said nozzle means.
 6. The bathing unit set forth in claim 5 including means for individually controlling the volume of fluid emitted from each of said nozzle means.
 7. The bathing unit apparatus set forth in claim 1 including patieNt supporting apparatus movable between vertically spaced positions into and out of said cavity; and means for moving said body supporting apparatus into and out of said cavity between said vertically spaced positions; said patient supporting apparatus including longitudinally extending support members and a plurality of longitudinally spaced cross members removably clamped to said longitudinally extending support members.
 8. The bathing unit set forth in claim 5 wherein the upper portions of said sidewall portions are curved inwardly toward each other to provide a splash ring which defines a reduced opening at the top of the tub and deflects upwardly splashed liquid back into the bathing cavity.
 9. The bathing unit set forth in claim 8 including patient supporting apparatus movable between vertically spaced positions in which the apparatus is in or out of said cavity, means for moving said body supporting apparatus into and out of said cavity between said vertically spaced positions; said body supporting apparatus including longitudinally extending support members and seat members removably clamped to said longitudinally extending support members.
 10. The bathing unit set forth in claim 1 including recirculating means for withdrawing liquid from said cavity and cooperating with said nozzle means for reintroducing the withdrawn liquid to said cavity; means associated with each nozzle means for individually controlling the volume of liquid emitted therefrom; and liquid pressure and volume control means associated with a plurality of said nozzle means for simultaneously changing the pressure and volume of fluid in said plurality of nozzle means.
 11. The bathing unit set forth in claim 10 including discharge port means in said wall portions, said liquid pressure and volume changing means comprising variable output pump means having an input section connected with said discharge port means and a discharge section connected with said plurality of nozzle means, means for changing the operation of said pump means to vary the output thereof to said plurality of nozzle means, and means connected between the discharge section and input section of said pump means for selectively diverting selected portions of said fluid from said output section to said input section to bypass said nozzle means and thus control the volume of fluid communicated to said nozzle means.
 12. A therapeutic bath tub comprising: completely curvilinear, continuous bottom and side, synthetic plastic wall means defining a bath receptacle for receiving washing liquid; a plurality of liquid emitting nozzles mounted on said wall means and adapted to be connected with a source of wash liquid for emitting liquid into said cavity; means for adjusting the pressure of the wash liquid delivered to said nozzles; each of said nozzles being adjustably mounted to various positions to control the direction of flow of wash liquid therethrough; means disposed in the receptacle for supporting at least a portion of a bather''s body in the receptacle; and means mounting the support means for vertical movement between a bathing position in said receptacle and a non-bathing removed position.
 13. The therapeutic bath tub set forth in claim 12 wherein said nozzles cooperate with each other and with said surface in selectively creating either one whirlpool or a plurality of individual whirlpools within said cavity.
 14. The therapeutic bath tub set forth in claim 12 wherein said nozzles cooperate with each other and with said surface in selectively creating a whirling, churning, stream of liquid forcibly directed against any part of a person positioned within said cavity. 